What are signs and symptoms of a concussion?
Most young people will recover completely from a single concussion within two weeks. But, some people can take longer to recover than others.
Common symptoms seen after a concussion are listed below. You should watch out for these problems and talk with your child’s doctor about any changes that you notice in these areas:
Physical
- Headaches
- Sick to stomach or vomiting
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Low energy or being run down
- Trouble with vision/seeing
- Bothered by light or noise
- Sleeping problems
Thinking (cognitive)
- Slowed thinking
- Trouble paying attention
- Difficulty remembering
- Acting like "in a fog"
- Easily confused
- School performance worsens
Behavioral or emotional
- Irritability or grouchiness
- Easily upset or frustrated
- Nervousness
- Sadness
- Acting without thinking
- Any other personality change
Reasons to consider seeing a concussion specialist include:
- Any of the above problems last more than two weeks
- Any problem seems especially severe
- Your child has had more than one concussion
- Your child has been diagnosed with a more serious brain injury (e.g., an injury associated with problems found on a CT or MRI scan)